This is how the day begins…

with one eye open,
watching morning creep
through the blind, a peeping tom
or sneak thief invading the bedroom.

You are still a shadow hunched
under the covers, a prisoner
of the loudly ticking clock
imitating the rhythm of heavy rock.

Craving quiet before birdsong,
I pad barefoot downstairs
for a much needed pee
and the first cup of tea,

only to find hungry cats by bowls.
I watch them feed, they skitter off,
while I listen to the soft bubble
of boiling water and click of kettle,

the tinny clink of metal spoon
on my favourite mug, and breathe
in the fruity scent of cranberry.
And so the day begins for me.

Kim M. Russell, 25th September 2024

Image by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash

This Wednesday, Sumana is our host at What’s Going On? She says that ‘we are almost at the tail end of the year now’ and that we can ‘hear the sound of the passage of time in everything: the clocks ticking; mirrors speaking; seasons marching.’ She has shared poems by Charles Baudelaire, Paul Celan and W.H. Auden, to inspire us to write about the march of time.

I have taken an old poem from 2016 and rewritten it and given it a new title.

23 thoughts on “This is how the day begins…”

  2. Kim, I really loved all of the detail you wrote about the beginning of your day. Each day is part of the march of time, and we can be so thankful each morning we open our eyes. I really loved many of the lines, but my favorite lines were these:

    “for a much needed pee
    and the first cup of tea,”

    They made me smile in their realness.

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  3. A lovely way for the day to begin – that clink of the spoon in the teacup is familiar – I note it every time I stir my tea. I have observed everyone does this with her own distinct flair. Smiles. This is a peaceful lovely poem – so nice to read against the clamour of the daily news. Thankfully we can choose peace in our homes.

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  4. Sweet description of your early morning. Grateful for my ensuite. In your situation I would be reverting to the chamber pot ( a nice antique floral one of course:) You think those cats could bring you a cup of tea. Never mind…mine are the same. You have created a warm lovely mood……Rall

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  7. “watching morning creepthrough the blind, a peeping tomor sneak thief invading the bedroom.”

    Fun personification. After the invasion, you seem to make your peace with the sun and the whole morning. Lovely poem.

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